Carthage police look?to issue firearms to officers

Carthage police officers would not have to buy their own pistols if a plan approved by the city council's public safety committee meets with council approval.

John Hacker

Carthage police officers would not have to buy their own pistols if a plan approved by the city council's public safety committee meets with council approval.

Interim Police Chief Barry Duncan asked for permission to take $5,000 intended for two in-car video systems, plus the trade-in value of more than 30 excess guns in the department's inventory, to buy pistols to issue to officers.

"It's gotten to the point where all of the departments around us are issuing their own handguns," Duncan said. "I hired two people in December and I said, 'OK, you're hired, now go buy a gun, go buy all your leather.' It's almost, to me, a slap in the face where we make them buy their own equipment when everyone else pretty much is furnishing everything."

Duncan said department issued handguns have a number of advantages beyond attracting qualified police officers to Carthage.

"Another issue is consistency and continuity in weapons," Duncan said.

Duncan recommended the department buy Glock .40 caliber handguns. He said with the $5,000 intended for the video systems and trading in the unused guns in the department's possession, he can buy 13 guns at a cost of $459 each, plus 13 secure holsters at a cost of $99 each.

"I think safety and liability are big issues, but my main reason is I believe we need to offer the new officers as much equipment as we can," Duncan said. "The highway patrol, conservation, department of corrections, Joplin, Webb City, the list goes on and on, they all issue Glocks."

The public safety committee agreed with Duncan's recommendation and voted to recommend approval by the full council.

Duncan said the department will pursue funding from a private foundation to buy the in-car video systems he said police also need.